Summary
Lebanon is drifting toward a prolonged political crisis that could lead to a much-feared economic collapse, political analysts said Tuesday.
Attempts to name a new prime minister and form a new government to appease a protesting public have been deadlocked as a result of the main political parties' conflicting positions on the shape of the next Cabinet.
Thousands of Lebanese, united by their outrage against the entire ruling political elite and rampant corruption, have been staging daily street demonstrations and sit-ins across Lebanon for over a month to press their demands for a change in the country's sectarian-based ruling system, an end to corruption, and early elections.
Masri said he was confident that eventually a compromise would be reached among the political adversaries to break the Cabinet deadlock. He said caretaker premier Saad Hariri would eventually be appointed to name a government of technocrats to appease the protesters.
Nader rejected proposals for a technocratic government, arguing this would allow entrenched political leaders to continue controlling the ruling system.
Nader emphasized that the only solution to the current predicament was through the formation of a government of competent independents capable of resolving the country's chronic political, economic and financial problems that unleashed the popular, anti-government uprising.
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